Mr. Williams began his career in 1989 as a patrolman assigned to Precinct 3 in Garrison. There he met his partner Judy Granger, who is now a detective in the applicant division.

"He always kept his cool and never raised his voice. He never prejudged anyone and always patiently listened to what they had to say. He was a good man," she said.

If he hadn't become interested in police work, he could probably have become a professional race driver, said Mr. Diggs, with whom he shared ownership of a 1994 Chevy Lumina race car.

"Drag racing was his way of getting away from the stress of police work," said Mr. Diggs, who was the mechanical half of the racing team. "Two tracks we raced at were Capital Raceway and Maryland International Raceway in Cecil County."

Born and raised in West Baltimore, Mr. Williams was a 1983 graduate of Walbrook Senior High School. After working for Safeway Steel Products, he enrolled in the Baltimore County Police Academy. He was married in 1995 to Vera Walker.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Samantha Williams of Baltimore; his parents, Lawrence Williams of Westminster and Carrie Williams of Baltimore; a brother, Gregory Williams of Baltimore; a sister, Angela E. Sutton of Pikesville; a stepson, Maurice Walker and stepdaughter, Venice Walker, both of Catonsville.